"All's well in the bullpen when Marshall Bridges, 'The Sheriff,' is available to put the padlock on enemy uprisings. A first-time Yankee in 1962, he took over for the injured Luis Arroyo and kept the staff from falling apart at critical times. A crackling fastball and a low breaking curve gave him an 8-4 figure and 20-10 lifetime.
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Bridges worked at St. Louis and Cincy from 1959 to '61."
-Don Schiffer, 1963 Major League Baseball Handbook
"A year ago, Marshall Bridges was an unknown quantity, a newcomer to the American League. But that indefinite status was quickly erased as the 'Sheriff' developed into the early-season bullpen ace of the Yankees. Overall, he appeared in 52 games (all in relief) to top the staff in total mound appearances. He posted a 3.13 ERA, second only to Whitey Ford's 2.90.
By the end of June, the big Mississippi southpaw had an amazing 1.22 ERA. Actually, he didn't allow a run in his first 14 appearances last year. He topped the staff in strikeout average with 8.25 whiffs per nine-inning game. And the Sheriff was lowest among the Yanks in allowing home runs, granting only four all season (one in every 18 innings).
Overall, Bridges has a .667 won-lost record (20 and 10), with 212 strikeouts and only 119 walks in 226 major league innings pitched. Before coming to the Yankees from Cincinnati, Marshall had scored a moderate success but was never able to maintain a place on a major league roster for a full season.
An elaborate storyteller, Bridges was the butt of several well-intentioned Yankee pranksters this spring following his unfortunate shooting in a Florida club on the second day of training. Marshall has completely recovered from the leg injury and hopes to make another notable contribution to a Yankee pennant campaign."
-The New York Yankees Official 1963 Yearbook
Marshall Bridges (P) #30
Born June 2, 1931, in Jackson, Mississippi, where he resides. Height: 6-1, Weight: 190. Bats right, throws left.
Married and father of two girls, Vivian (7) and Deborah (5), and one boy, Marshall (4).
-The New York Yankees Official 1963 Yearbook
Acquired from Cincinnati Reds in exchange for catcher Jesse Gonder, December 1961.
Led Yankee pitchers in games saved (18), 1962.
-1963 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"One of the most valuable Yankees in their successful 1962 pennant drive was left-handed relief hurler Marshall Bridges, who led Bomber moundsmen in games saved with 11, not to mention his eight victories.
With Luis Arroyo, the relief ace of 1961, sidelined with elbow trouble, Manager Ralph Houk turned to Bridges. 'The Fox' didn't disappoint him.
An accident prior to spring training this year hampered Bridges' conditioning in his attempt to repeat his top-notch work of '62. Bridges was shot in the calf of his left leg in a Fort Lauderdale nightclub, February 12 by a woman who was arrested by police on a charge of aggravated assault. The bullet damaged a calf muscle and broke a bone, but wasn't regarded as too serious an injury by physicians.
Bridges was acquired by the Yanks on December 14, 1961, from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for catcher Jesse Gonder. 'The Fox,' who started his diamond career in 1953 with Sioux City as a first baseman, first appeared in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959. He had begun that campaign with Rochester after having starred for Sacramento in 1957 and '58.
Bridges spent the 1960 season with the Cards and Reds, finishing with a 6-2 mark and a 2.37 ERA in 57 innings. He split '61 with the Reds and Jersey City before coming to New York."
-1963 Jay Publishing New York Yankees Yearbook
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